Elastic-fluid turbine.



ATTI' W. E. & H. A. LEES & C. W. GRISE.

ELASTIG FLUID TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULYB,1907.

898,753. Patnented Sept. 15, 1908. l SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ELASTIG FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1907.

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BLASTIG FLUID TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY8,1907.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

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es Wr-ve By MAM www# A TTOHNEYS' To all 'it 'muy concern:

UNITEDsrAtIrEs PATENT OFFICE.

WELIAM FRANKLIN LEES, HARRY AUGUSTDlE LEES',' AND CHARLES WESLEY GRISE,0F

" SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

EnAs'rrc-FLum TUBBINE.-

specincatiun or Letten Palaia.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Application sled Juiy's, 1907." serial No. 382,580.

Be it 'known that we, WILLIAM FRANKLIN LEES, HAEBYAUGUSTINE LEES, andCHARLES WESLEY GRISE, all citizens of the United States, and residentsof San Diego, in the county of San Die o and State of California, haveinvente a new and Improved Elastic-Fluid Turbine, of which the followlngis a full, clear, and exact descri tion.

Our invention relates to elastic uid turbines and admits of general use,our more particular object to produce a turbine operated by theexpansive force of gases, such as are produced by the explosion of heavyor light crude oil, petroleum refuse, anthracite and bituminous gases,water and coal gases, benzin, gasolene, ethylene, marsh gas, naturalgas, acetylene gas, semi-water gas, producer gas, various hydrocarbongases not specilically mentioned, and alcohol.

Our invention further relates to certain improvements in constructionwhereby an explosive aeriform mixture is received into a suitablecompartment, conducted thence in definite charges to the chamber, thenceallowed to low periodica y into the expansion chamber, and distributedfrom there to the turbine vanes from which it is allowed to escape.

Reference is to be had to tlirelluszcompnydrawings formm' ga arto t speca- 1tiidn, in which similar cliiaracters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 is a substantially horizontal section on the line 1 1 of Fig.2, looking in the direction of the arrow, through our improved turbine,showing the arrangement of the pumping mechanism, the valves, the gearmgfor operating the latter, the arrangement of the various chambers, andthe several vanes; Fig. 2 is a vertical section upon the line 2 2 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing thecylindrical compartment used as a water jacket and also showing variousdetails including the inlet for the explosive mixture; 3 is a yerticalsection :upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

shoki'lg the valve for preventing retrogression of burned gases from theexplosive chamber, this view also showing the spark plug for a chargewithin the explosion chamber; Fig. 4 is a vertical section upon the line4 4 of Fig. 1,1ookingin the direction in the direction of the arrow andvof the arrow, and showing the valve used lor periodically establishingcommunication between the explosion chamber and the expansion chamber.upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, andshowing the spiral nozzles for directing the expansive medium againstthe vanes; Fig. 6 is a section upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrow, and showing a circle of stationary'vanes;Fig. 7 is a vertical section through one of the revoluble disks, each ofwhich is provided with a circle of vanes; 8"is a section upon the line 88 of Fig. 1, loo in the direction of the arrow, and showing t e rearhead of the turbine casing together with the exhaust port 57; and Fig. 9is a diagrammatic section showing the relation of the movable and ixedvanes.

A cylindrical casing 9 is rovided with lugs 10 whereby it may hesupported. Mounted within the cylindrical casing 9 are cylinders 11, 12,13, 14. Disposed outside of the cylinders last mentioned and inside ofthe casing 9 are tie rods 16 spaced equidistant and extending through acylindrical compartment 15. The cylinders 11, 12, 13, 14 are separatedby annular compartments 17, 18, 19 merging into the cylindricalcompartment 15. The arts are so arranged that water may be 'circu atedthrough these compartments in order to prevent their destruction byexcessive heat. ln other words, the cylinders are all water-jacketed. A

The cylinders 11, 12 are connected together by spirally disposed nozzles20, so arranged F1g. 5 is a vertical section as to direct the expansiblemedium at suitable angles. The front casing head is shown at 21 and therear casing head at 22. Integral with the front casing head 21 is asleeve 23 serving as a bearing. A similar sleeve 24 is integrallyconnected with the rear casing head 22. A revoluble shaft 25 isjournaled within these bearings andY mounted upon this shaft is aily-wheel 26. An eccentric 27 is likewise mounted upon this shaft. Thiseccentric is connected by an eccentric rod 28 with a pump 29. Theoutletpipe 30 of this pump 1s connected with the inlet 31 (see Fig. 2)of the turbine. Cylindrical bearings 32, 33 are mounted upon the irontcasing head 21 and projecting from them are studs 34a, 35a upon whichare splined two supporting gear wheels 34, 35. These gear to Fig. 1.

wheels are provided respectively with cams 36, 37, each cam havingsubstantially the conformity of a wedge. The cylinders 12, 13, 14 areprovided with compartments 38, 39, 40. The cylinders 12, 13 areconnected together by a assage 41 which is normally closed by a valve42. This valve is mounted upon a'stem 43, the latter being engagedperiodically bythe cam 36. A spring 44 is mounted within a spring box 45and tends to force the stem 43 toward the left, according The cylinders13, 14 are connected by a passage 46 which is normally closed by a valve47 mounted upon a valve stem 48 and passing through a s l'ing box 49similar to the spring box 45. he valve 47 and its stem 48 are similar intheir action to the valve 42 and its stem 43. The cam 37 peri-' odicallytrips the valve stem 48 and thus moconcentric to the cylinder 11 andconnecting each sleeve 51a with this cylinder are a number of stationaryvanes 51 disposed radially around the shaft 25 as a center.

Vanes 52 project radially -outward from sleeves 53 carried by spokes 54,the latter radiatingfrom hubs 55. Bands 56 integral with the vanes 52encircle the latter, as inpurp dicated in Fig. 7, the whole of thesearts constituting a wheel, several such whee s being shown in Fig. 1. Anoutlet port is shown at 57, being merely a hole in registry with theexhaust pipe 58. At 59 (see Fig. 8) 'and 60 (see Fig. 2) are holes forsupplying the water jacket with water. A

The gears 34, 35 are provided with hubs 61, 62 integral therewith andhaving an inclined face (see Fig. 1). Cams 63, 64 are mounted upon theouter ends oi'lthe studs 34a, 35a, the latter being reduced for thisose. Handles 65, 66 are connected rigldly with the cams 63, 64 and areused for turning the same. If desired, spiral springs may be introducedintermediate the cylindrical bearings 32, 33 on the one hand, and thehubs of the gears 34, 35 on the other hand, for the purpose of normallypressing the gears 34, 35 to the left. By turning the handles 65, 66 ofthe cams 63, 64, the gears 34, 35 or either of them, may move to theright or left without disconnecting them from their iittings. In thismanner the valves 42, 47 may be maintained closed as long as desired,and this action is necessary in order to enable the pump 29 tov compressthe aeriform body to a predetermined degree. For instance, if it isdesired to have a pressure of sevent live pounds of mixed gas, this canbe rea y accomplished before the machine starts.

The cylinder 14 is provided with av bearing sleeve 61* in which theshaft 43 turns and lbody inthe compartment 38. The degree of pressureattained may vary with the proportions of the several parts. Theapparatus being started, each revolution of the shaft 25'causes the cam37 to engage the valve stem 48 and open the valve 47. This allowsl anexcess of the aeriform body to go Vthrough the passage 46 into `theexplosionv chamber 39, the valve 47 instantly closing and preventingretrogression ofthe explosive charge. The chargeV within the explosionchamber 39 is now exploded by aid of a spark plug 60a (see 3)' orequivalent means. The pressure in the explosion chamber 39 is nowgreater than before and has more or less tendency to open the valve 42.Since, however, g the spring 44 is pretty strong, the valve is notopened until the cam 36 engages the valve stem 43. This opens the valve42 and a portion of the gases of combustion passes out through thepassage 41 into the compartment 40 which we designate 'as the expansionchamber.

It will be noted that the opening of the valve 42 does not occur at thesame instant as the opening of the valve 47. This prevents abruptness inallowing the explosive charge to reach the movable parts of the turbine.Within the expansion chamber 40 the variations in pressure are lesspronounced than in the explosion chamber 39. The gases of combustion nowpass through the spiral nozzles 20 and impinge against the p' The movale vanes confer rotary motion upon the shaft 25 which furnishes powerfor operating the pump and for turning the various gears. Forconvenience we designate the revoluble vanes and their accompanyingparts as the movable element4 of thev turbine, and iied vsnes and theiraccompanying parts eing y analogy designated as the fixed member of theturbine.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a receptacle for holding an explosive aeriformbody under f pressure, an explosion chamber, a valve for opening andcloslng communication between said receptacle and said explos1onchamber,

:in expansion chnmbor connected by n passngo with sziiil explosionchamber, ai second vulve l'or opening :ind closing communication l'romsii-ill explosion clnimbei' to siiid ex- ]mnsion chamber, tnrbinomeclnuiism conneclld with sziid expnnsion chamber :ind ihivcn thereby,stoms connected to both of sniil vulves l'or nctmitinlgr them, :indmeans l'oi' :iclimling sniil stems alternately.

L. 'lhc combimition ol' :i receptacle for holilin;r nn explosive:iorilorm body under pressure, nn. explosion chnmberI n vulve foropening nml closing comnnmication between sniil receptacle :mil seidexplosion chamber, :in cxlninsion chamber connected by :t passage withsniil explosion clnunber, a second vnlvc l'or opening' :md closing,rcommunication l`1om sniil explosion chamber to said expansion chamber,tnrbinc` mechanism connected with snid expansion chamber and driventhereby, stems connected With said valves for ictimting the same, ondmeans controllable by said turbine mechanism for actuating 'sind stemsalternately.

3. The combinntion of fin explosion clizimber, a valve located therein,zt gear provided with means for opening and closing.,r said valve, nmounting for said gear, and ineens controllable at will for shifting theposition of said gear relatively to said mounting for the purpose ofvarying the degree of control of said gear relatively to said valve.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses:

HOWARD S. CAPWELL, WILSON S. SMITH.

